Pompeo replacing Tillerson at State? Here’s where they’d differ

The New York Times is reporting that the Trump administration is considering replacing Secretary of State Rex Tillerson with current CIA Director Mike Pompeo. (With Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., then taking over Pompeo’s CIA post.)

The intelligence chief is a Tea Party conservative and military veteran with America-first credentials, and his appointment would undoubtedly be received by the Right as a refreshing change of course from Tillerson’s unproductive, destructive tenure as America’s chief diplomat.

Here are some of the areas where you’d see potential changes in American foreign policy.

1. The bureaucracy Swamp

Conservative Review has reported on the presence of several Obama administration holdovers who continue to occupy senior positions in the State Department.

These holdovers are driving policy platforms of the past administration, with little pushback from Tillerson. Given Pompeo’s conservative accolades, it’s hard to believe that he won’t bring in like-minded people to serve in high-ranking positions at State.

2. Qatar crisis

Tillerson has continued to be a major apologist for the terror-supporting government in Qatar, which has been accused by its Gulf neighbors of partnering with Iran and groups like al-Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood in its attempts to undermine U.S. partners in the region.

The former ExxonMobil CEO has substantial business ties to Qatar and has continually shielded the rogue nation from accountability efforts from its neighbors.

3. Kurdistan

Under Secretary Tillerson, the State Department has served as one of the major anti-Kurdish forces within the Trump administration. The State fought back against Kurdish efforts to declare independence from Iraq.

Inside State, Obama holdover Brett McGurk has played a key role in undermining the President Trump’s Middle East strategy. But Tillerson and his entourage has stubbornly insisted that Iraq remain whole, even as Baghdad falls under the umbrella of the Iranian regime.

4. Iran deal

Tillerson has reportedly been one of the chief advocates for staying in the nuclear deal with the regime in Tehran. His top Iran advisers are holdovers from the Obama administration and played an active role in lobbying for the deal.

On the other hand, Pompeo has reportedly been one of the officials who’s called on President Trump to leave the deal.

5. Embassy in Jerusalem

The sitting secretary of State is fiercely opposed to moving the American embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to the country’s capital city of Jerusalem.

Rumors continue to swirl that the Trump administration is on the precipice of announcing the move — a campaign promise of Trump’s. As a congressman, Pompeo was very supportive of the state of Israel, which bodes well for the Jerusalem embassy’s prospects.

6. Muslim Brotherhood

The global jihadist organization has been labeled a terrorist group in several countries, including by many Arab-Muslim allies.

While serving as a Kansas representative, Pompeo co-sponsored a bill designating the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization. Meanwhile, in June, Tillerson said that labeling the Muslim Brotherhood as such would be “problematic.”

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Author: Jordan Schachtel

Jordan Schachtel is the national security correspondent for Conservative Review and editor of The Dossier for Blaze Media. Follow him on Twitter @JordanSchachtel.